The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-02-10
THE POET OF THE PINES.
VOICES THAT WHISPER THROUGH
THE AIR.
A Tribute from al Aspiring Young Poet
to a North Carolina Poet who is Win
ming Laurels in the Poetic World.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRoNI,

mere local reputation, is the author Of a
volume of verses, which bears the title,
''Whispering Pines
In this collection of his writings, the
author has given to the reading public
many bright gems of poesy, which are
worthy of praise and preservation. Mr.
Boner has many of the elements of a true
poet, and he has already Won numerous
tokens of appreciation and esteem. His
poems have found their way into some of
the leading publications of America; and
he has many friends and admirers through
out his native State and far beyond its
borders.
'Whispering Pines appeared few
years ago, and was received with favor,
winning many golden opinions for its au
thor. 1t contains several very fine poems,
and none that fall below the level of me
diocrity. No writer is entirely faultless,
and there are very few books that are per-
feet in every respect. But the small mum
Der of defects found in Mr.. Boner's voi
ume, are completely over-balanced by the
good and excellent qualities of his work.
The author is still young man, and. if he
continues to write, no doubt the future
will bring forth much from his pen that
will add to his reputation and popularity
as poet.
A great deal of pleasure may be derived
from the perusal of Mr.. Boner's poems.
He has written many graceful and glow
ing lines. Some of his verses betray the
impress of youthful hand, but this does
not, in the least, detract from their charm
ing simplicity and tenderness. For what
is more sweet than the pure outgushings
OF youthful heart? His style is generally
simple and elegant. Stilted expressions,
and complicated phrases are very seldom,
IT ever, INDUCED in. Though, occasionally,
there appears labored versa fault
which very few writer's are able to entirely
escape. But, above all, his poems are
poems Of life. The voices that come TO his
ear from the whispering pines, are the
voices of nature. If the pines rejoice, it
is the rejoicing of happy human beings;
If the tone is sad it is the sadness of sor-
rowing hearts; if the pines give forth
wailins moan, it is the wailing and moan
ing of suffering human souls The poet
stands beneath the whispering pine, and
If 1t whispers song Of gladness, he catch
es the echo and sends it ringing through
the world; if it breathcs a story of grief
and sadness, with a sympathetic heart he
listens to its mournful voice, and in his
own tender tones he relates the message to
tue listening world.
Mr.. BOner is descriptive poet He
does not indulge in fanciful hyperboles.
and philosophical metaphors. The Ian
guage that he uses is simple and refined -
and simplicity is one of the supreme ne
cessities in the embodiment of true poet
He does not sail away to the poets Utopia
to get his thoughts; nor does he deck them
in garments found by the aid Of Alladin's 5
lamp. He finds his themes in the world
in which he lives, and in modest, vet ele-
giant. garb, he sends them forth upon their
mission.
Some of his descriptions are exceedingly
beautiful and graphic. ''Moonrise in the
Pines Is fine specimen of the authors
splendid descriptive power. The word
painting in tn poem is perfect You gaze
upon the rapidly changing sunset skies;
you see the evening shadows gathering
around you; and far away in the darlling
vault of heaven, you catch a glimpse of a
lone star, swinging out above the weary
world The darkness comes on and an
der the pines We wait for the rising moon
And the dark, gloomy trees
''The nestle and whisper like ghosts.
They sigh like souls in pam:
Like the movements of stealthy hosts.
They surge, and are silent again.
Ere long the moon rises above the hor-
zon, and,
d
Softly suffuses the sky
Where f1occulent clouds are quescent.
w mere ike 1roth OF the ocean they de
Like foam on the beach they crimple
w here the wave has spent its swire-
Like the curve of a shell they dimpie
Into lridescent pearl.
The closing portion of the poem is weirClly,
yet beautifully graphic:
''And the light grows brighter and higher
Till far through the trees |
The rim of globe of fire
That rolls through the darkness to me:
And the aiSles of the forest gleam
With a splendor unearthly, that shines.
Like the light of lurid dream,
Through the colonnaded pines
1t is grand poem, and a living monu-
ment Of It's authors poetic ability.
"Autumnal' is lengthy poem contain
ing many pretty thoughts, and striking
passages 1--WE Walked Among the Whi3-
pering Pines" is sad sweetly pathetic. and
tenderly expressive. 1.-The Silver We'd
ding is a graceful and rollicking descrip-
ton of the meeting and union of the Po-
tomac and Shenandoah rivers Among
the other notable poems in the volume,
Drouth, " ga Vision" "a Soul in Purga-
tory" ''Two Friends" and many more
equally meritorious. The few dialect po-
ems in the volume are very good speci-
mems of their kind but Mr.. Boners forte
does not lie in writing dialect verses
The volume concludes with "A Recluse
of Appalachian the longest poem in tie
book. This is a long story told in an easy,
graceful manner. 1t is fascinating from
beginning to ending; and it charms the
reader with its beautiful thoughts, snatch
es of graphic description, and the weird.
and often wild, strangeness of the plo..
1t is sad, sweet story, and the author
els it III style which adds to its enc,lant-
ment. TO quote from it would present a
very Inadequate conception of the beauty
and grandeur of the work Therefore, !
forbear TO make any extract from the po-
EN-. 1t is the crowning eEdeavor Of the
youme-and it is a golden crown, reflect
ing the genius of its gifted author
Long live John Henry Boner, the Poet
of the Pines! Long may the voices that
whisper through the air continue to breathe
their songs of aspiration to the listening
soul OF their<alented singer.
We closs><he volume, our hearts, like the
heart bhie poet, whispering:
"'I peace to hear the soughing pines,
.Eid the aad minor undertone
.Ehat runs along the sedgy lines
JAMES CHESTER ROCKWELL.
u. A professional burglar by drilling a
4le through The iron front into the lock
Hrks and then using dynamite for blow
The door open, stole from the safe of
NJ. l. D. Sauls in Goldsboro $500, in
ntney few nights ago 1t was daring
robbery. The Argus says that suspicion
points to no special person.